Reasons for Designation
Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age
(c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as stone mounds covering single or
multiple burials. These burials may be placed within the mound in stone-lined
compartments called cists. In some cases the cairn was surrounded by a ditch.
Often occupying prominent locations, cairns are a major visual element in the
modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature of the uplands and are
the stone equivalent of the earthen round barrows of the lowlands. Their
considerable variation in form and longevity as a monument type provide
important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation
amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of
their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered
worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes four funerary cairns and a surrounding cairnfield on
Threepow Raise. The funerary cairn situated on the summit of Threepow Raise
includes an oval mound of largely turf-covered stones. This mound measures up
to 0.55m high with maximum dimensions of 7.1m by 6.2m and has kerbing around
the south western edge and the remains of a stone cist slightly east of
centre.
Approximately 55m to the ESE is an oval mound of partly turf-covered stones up
to 0.2m high with maximum dimensions of 4.7m by 4.3m. This cairn has a central
hollow in which remains of a small cist are visible. Approximately 65m SSW of
the summit, on a slight rise between two areas of bog, is a flat-topped oval
mound of largely turf-covered stones up to 0.5m high with maximum dimensions
of 5.3m by 4.7m. Approximately 55m to the south west, on the same slight rise,
is an irregularly-shaped mound of largely turf-covered stones. It measures up
to 0.3m high with maximum dimensions of 12.2m by 4.4m and has upright stones
forming a kerb along its south western edge. The surrounding cairnfield
includes 31 cairns and two stone banks. These cairns can be sub-divided into
four groups; one group of two small cairns up to 0.2m high with maximum
dimensions of 4.2m by 3.8m occupies the same slight rise between two areas of
bog as the two funerary cairns described above. A second group of 19 cairns
generally c.3m in diameter and up to 0.3m high, together with two stone banks,
are scattered around the gently graded slopes of Threepow Raise. A third group
of eight generally smaller cairns are located within a gully east of Elder
Beck; and a fourth group of two small cairns are located west of Elder Beck.
Limited investigation in 1935 of the funerary cairn 55m ESE of the summit of
Threepow Raise and two cairns within the cairnfield, coupled with antiquarian
investigation of the cairn on the summit of Threepow Raise, indicate
that the monument comprises two distinct elements; small clearance cairns
around the lower slopes and a number of funerary cairns on the gently-sloped
summit.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22541
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
